2008 Toyota Sienna problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (56) · Vehicle Speed Control (51) · Engine (29)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Sienna model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
357 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (7)
Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler 2016-06-02 · campaign 16V396000 · 7,749 vehicles
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heat
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler 2014-11-19 · campaign 14V743000 · 3,233 vehicles
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire 2014-05-22 · campaign 14V273000 · 419,520 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Sienna vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The affected vehicles have a spare tire carrier assembly mounted under the vehicle whose atta
Risk: If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota sent owners in August 2014 an interim notification to advise owners of the recall and that dealers will perform an interim remedy to remove the spare tire and relocate it to the luggage compartment, free of charge. Owners are being mailed a second letter as parts become available and dealers will replace the spare tire carrier assembly with an improved one, free of charge. The remedy campaign is being performed in phases. The first phase of the recall began July 7, 2015. Owners may co
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2013-09-26 · campaign 13V429000 · 614,722 vehicles
Defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Sienna vehicles manufactured January 10, 2003, through August 10, 2005; and model year 2007-2009 Sienna vehicles manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, there is a possibility that the shift lever could be moved out of Park position without depressing the brake pedal.
Risk: If the shift lever is moved out of the Park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or Neutral, increasing the risk of a backover or roll away crash.
Fix: Toyota will mail interim notifications to owners beginning in late October 2013. When parts are available, owners will be sent a second notice and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Structure 2010-04-20 · campaign 10V160000 · 600,000 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 7, 1997 AND JANUARY 4, 2010, CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SPARE TIRE
Risk: THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM LETTER INITIALLY INSTRUCTING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSPECT FOR CORROSION. A SECOND NOTICE WILL BE SENT WHEN THE PERMANENT REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE TOYOTA'S AMENDED RECALL REPORT OF JULY 19, 2010. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Equipment:other:labels 2010-02-03 · campaign 10V035000 · 271,417 vehicles
Defect: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
Equipment:other:labels 2010-02-03 · campaign 10V036000 · 153,418 vehicles
Defect: SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Service bulletins (247)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Showing the 6 most recent of 247 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-21 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear passenger’s side sliding door independently unlatched and opened. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where unknown repairs were performed. the contact stated that several years later the failure reoccurred. the local dealer was not co…”
2026-03-25 · Firerelated · 107,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owned a 2008 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while he was away, the fire department called to notify him that his vehicle had caught fire while parked in the driveway. the contact's neighbor was alerted to the fire by the vehicle's alarm system and called the fire department. the fire department extinguished the fire but was unab…”
2025-11-06 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“throttle stuck while in reverse pulling out of a parking spot and accelerated resulting in backing into the building…”
2025-02-06 · Vehicle Speed Control“i have had the traction control go on while driving on the highway even when i turn it off. sometimes the vsc and trac off lights go on while driving. the roads are dry. whenever i take it in to the mechanic, all the lights are off. they pulled a zero calibration code and recalibrated. it still kept happening. then i was driving around a curve on h…”
2024-12-11 · Unknown Or Other“odometer - false - reporting -montana title - signed and notarized by seller (carvana) "federal and state state law require that the owner state the mileage of a vehicle upon transfer of ownership. if you fail to complete this disclosure or provide a false statement, you may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment." we were sold toyota sienna 110…”
2024-04-29 · Engine“the head gasket that was repaired failed and the radiator system also failed. im not sure if these issues are dealer related or manufacture related as i spoke to the previous owner and they stated they had the vehicle serviced at a manufacturer prior to doing a trade in with the dealer…”
2023-11-11 · Visibility/Wiper“the material used by toyota to manufacture the dash is breaking down. toyota is aware of this issue due to cracking and offered a limited extended warranty which i never received any notification (and many others did not per toyota's chat forum). cracking i can deal with. but now the material is continuing to break down and a thick sticky liquid…”
2023-08-24 · Power Train · 178,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. the contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated at a high rate of speed. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact desperately pressed on the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not slow down. the contact shifted the gear lever into neutral and the vehicle slowed down. th…”
2023-07-15 · Steering“issues with vsc. the sensor alarm goes off when driving at more than 50 mph and slightly turning the steering wheel. the car brakes itself and this is dangerous. it happens all the time, it has been more than 5-6 years and we are to the point of not using the car on the freeway to prevent a potential fatal accident. i found posts describing the sam…”
2022-12-29 · Engine · 204,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. the contact stated while pulling into a grocery store, he heard an abnormal ticking sound. the contact stated upon parking and inspecting the outside of the vehicle, he noticed that engine oil was leaking onto the ground. additionally, the oil dipstick was dry upon inspecting the oil level. there was no warnin…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.